Teaching and Learning

Middle School

Technology Services & Facilities

Middle School

Irene Louden
ILT Education Specialist
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Middle School

Brad TyrrellDecember 13, 2018May 9, 2022

Transformational learning and teaching are core to the experience at Scotch College Middle School. Our students live in a rapidly-increasing interconnected world and digital technologies are the conduit for participation. The Middle Years program offers students the opportunity to develop 21st century skills of complex communication, creativity, collaboration and critical reflection.

As students transition into the Middle Years at Scotch College, the emphasis on agency and self-management skills in the use of digital technology become the focus for learning. This is a critical time for your child to develop good habits of organisation along with modifying and adjusting the use of technology at home and at school.

The implementation of Apple iPads throughout the Middle School has encouraged an important shift in teaching and learning practices which are continuously evolving with new and improved technological innovations.  Students and teachers co-learn in collaborative environments using their iPad as the tool to develop the skills to succeed in an ever-changing environment.

As part of their daily practice, students utilise SEQTA Learn, a Learning Management System for students that contains important daily information about timetables, courses and assessments.  This is complemented by SEQTA Engage for parents and guardians. During House Tutor Group classes at the beginning of each day, your son is encouraged to check his timetable, dashboard and notices to organise himself for learning.

Within classes, the iPad Air 4 with Apple Pencil is required for learning activities. Modes of learning when using digital devices can differ between activities across subject areas.  Often the device is used as a creative tool offering options for video-recording, sketch-noting, audio recording and podcasting.  Alternatively the digital device can be used for researching, reading and interactive platforms such as Stile for Science or Mathspace in Mathematics.

Your son will be given opportunities to develop his skills and understandings in using a variety of software applications including Office365, Apple iWork and Adobe Creative Cloud.  OneNote and Classwork platforms are used extensively across many of the classes for distribution of class materials and opportunities for collaboration in online environments. Microsoft Teams can be utilised in the event of Online Learning for face-to-face live instruction with the teacher.

In Indonesian and French the use of the online application, Quizlet enables teachers to create self-assessed and self-paced activities that allow language to be taught through a variety of media.

Currently our Middle school boys have access to our OneDrive Cloud server in order that their work is safely stored and protected.  It is important for our students to be able to access their work from anywhere in the world and from any device.  

This is particularly beneficial for students who work across a number of devices between home and school and also helpful when students have difficulty with a device or it needs repair.  Students are still able to access all their work via OneDrive even if using a loan device.

In addition, your son has access to GoPro devices, Maker Space kits and the full resources of the Senior School.

FAQs

What devices are used in the Middle School?

In Year 6 and 7 your son will be using an iPad Air with Apple Pencil. He will be provided with a case for his iPad along with an Apple Care package for backing up his work. In year  8, your son will be using a MacBook Air 13 inch laptop with 128GB of space to store all his school work.

Your son has been instructed to use OneDrive to store all of his files for school as this is the only method the College offers to recover anything that is lost as a result of accidental deletion or damage to the device. All students have had specific training now this works and it is their responsibility to be using their device as prescribed by the College.

What can I see on my son's device?

The device is a window into your child’s learning, giving you a first-hand view of the platforms and programs used for learning.  Storage and filing systems become paramount to organisation and efficiency of workflow as students progress through Middle School.  Therefore, understanding filing systems and archiving documents at the end of each term, semester and year becomes part of the file management process that is encouraged.

Just as you would sit down and go through a physical workbook of your son’s work, I would encourage you to sit down to review the current tasks he is working on and has completed on his device. OneNote and Classwork will be a large part of his digital learning journey, so we recommend you ask him take you through the work he has been completing. SEQTA also gives you access to the courses, upcoming assessments and an outline of his current homework tasks.

What software does my son have access too?

Your son has access to a significant amount of software to complete his work and achieve at his best while at Scotch College. Each iPad and MacBook has access to a portal called ‘Self Service’ in which he can download a range of applications that have been supplied by the College. These include the Adobe suite of products for creating videos, computer graphics or animations along with access to the Apple and Microsoft Office suite. In addition to this, specialty software for particular courses is provided where required and if your son has suggestions or requests for software he can ask and the request will be evaluated.

What protections are in place for his safety while browsing the internet?

Privacy and safety while using technology at Scotch College is of utmost concern. The College provides a high-speed internet connection that is filtered and monitored to the best of our ability during the school day, to ensure safe search results are returned. During his time at Scotch College your son is also educated on being safe while online and how to go about seeking help or assistance if he feels that something is incorrect whilst browsing the internet.

Can my son bring in extra peripherals?

Learning how to type and recognising keyboard functions have become a key essential skill in using digital technologies for education. From Year 3 to Year 8, students work through a progression of lessons with a focus on correct finger placement, speed and accuracy.  

Scotch College learning programs have been designed for the iPad using the onboard keyboard and do not require the students to have a standalone keyboard or mouse for the learning requirements in the Junior or Middle School. 

Students are welcome to provide an external Bluetooth keyboard and/or mouse for use with their iPad.  It is important to note that students will be encouraged to utilise both keyboards.  Any malfunctions or issues with home-provided equipment will need to be resolved privately. Any Keyboard that attaches to the iPad and causes the removal of the provided case must still maintain the same level of protection. The image below would not be acceptable as a protection if the edge of the iPad is uncovered.

 

Where does my child store their work?

Students work to create storage spaces on their iPad, iCloud and using OneDrive.  It is important for our students to be able to access their work from anywhere in the world and from any device.  Both the OneDrive online and the OneDrive app enables students to access, upload, and share files from anywhere. This is particularly beneficial for students who work across a number of devices between home and school and also helpful when students have difficulty with a device or it needs repair.  Students are still able to access all their work via OneDrive even if using a loan device.

Please encourage your child to show you their organisation within their OneDrive as we are teaching the boys about the efficiency of file structures and archiving work.

Assessments are uploaded to SEQTA for teacher collection.

What is my son's digital diary?

In the Middle School we do not provide a physical diary for the students. There are many number of strategies that your son could be using as a digital diary. Ask him to explain how he keeps track of the work, the due dates and the reminders. The device allows many different solutions to his organisational needs. It may be using the inbuilt Task structures through SEQTA Learn or it may be using Outlook Calendar and Tasks.

If you feel your son would benefit from a hard copy diary you are welcome to purchase one for his use.

How is Screen Time on the iPad used?

Screen Time is a feature that is enabled on iPads that lets you know how much time your son is spending on apps, websites, and more. This way, you can make more informed decisions about how your son uses his devices. There is functionality to set limits using Screen Time. This function is being rolled out over the course of 2021 and 2022 connected with a pastoral care plan for encouraging your son to be aware of his usage and make informed decisions himself.

Does my son need to bring his charger to school?

Students are expected to arrive at school with their iPad on 100% and ready for the day’s learning.

If for any reason the iPad is not charged, a limited number of charging stations are available within the classroom.

What is Family Sharing?

Family Sharing makes it easy for up to six family members to share iTunes, iBooks, and App Store purchases, an Apple Music Family Membership, and an iCloud storage plan. Your family can also share a photo album, calendar, and reminders, and even help locate each others’ missing devices.

All students have the ability to add apps to the iPad. We recommend this is done through the process of family sharing which allows the parent to approve all apps that are added to the iPad from their child’s personal Apple ID.

The College will provide all apps for teacher-directed activities. Your son can add apps to their device. We recommend that this is done through family sharing so that apps receive your approval before being installed.

The school recommends that family sharing be setup so that student selected apps are approved by parents before they are installed by the students.

If you have set up family sharing, any purchase made via this method will remain the property of the payee.

Your son is provided all required apps by the school to complete the set tasks. If he wants other apps and you have set up family sharing your son will not require your credit card information to purchase apps.

Managing devices at home

The availability of screens and devices are very much part of the home and educational landscape in this current climate.  It is of high importance that regular discussions take place as a family about appropriate use of technology at home and at school.  Discussing key issues and expectations as a family and creating a Family Agreement is a helpful first step in establishing routines and boundaries at home.

Here are some suggestions for discussing technologies at home:

  • Where can devices be used in our home?
  • Which areas are Tech Free Zones?
  • Where is our central charging area and what time are devices expected to be plugged in at the end of the day?
  • When are our digital blackouts?
    • Meal times
    • Family gatherings
    • Sleepovers
    • Friends visiting
  • What are our devices used for?
    • Educational expectations
    • Leisure expectations
    • Social media expectations
  • What is important about privacy and sharing?
  • What is our strategy if we come across anything inappropriate or anything that makes us uncomfortable?
  • What are the consequences for breaking the agreement?

Helpful Websites:

  • eSafety for Parents
  • Common Sense Media
  • Raising Children
  • PLCScotch Cyber Safety Hub
Can my son access games on his device?

The Year 6 and 7 iPads are managed devices, meaning the apps that he is required to use for his school work will be provided to him by the College. These can be installed onto the device through a school app called self-service.

In Year 8 your son is a full administrator of his laptop.  Applications can be installed through a school app called self-service.

Students are not permitted to install games on their devices.

Contact

Irene Louden
ILT Education Specialist
Irene.Louden@scotch.wa.edu.au
ILT Education Specialist
  • Last Updated: December 13, 2018May 9, 2022
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